Switch mechanism



L. J. WICK SWITCH MECHANISM April 8, 1930.

Filed July 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 8, 1930.

L. J. WICK SWITCH MECHANISM Filed July 28, 1928 i um.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented .Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICELOUIS J. WICK, OF HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR- T0 WIGKS PIPE ORGAN(10., OF HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS SWITCH MECHANISMApplication filed July 28, 1928. Serial No. 295,940.

My present invention relates to a switch mechanism, and moreparticularly to a unitary structure used as a relay unit in electricallyoperated pipe organs.

The main object of this invention is to provide a switch mechanismcomprising contact means which operates with a wiping or brushingcontact and keeps the contact surfaces clean and free from corrosion anddeposits. Another object is to provide such a mechanism comprising aswingable contact bar and resilient contact elements some of which arein constant engagement with said bar, and the mechanism being arrangedto produce a wiping contact of said bar on said elements. A furtherobject is to provide a swjpch mechanism comprising resilient contactelements and rotatable means with a contact member thereon for wipinglyengaging said. elements and provide electric connection therebetween,and to have said member-actuated by an electro-magnet with an armaturewhich has di-. rect connection with said rotatable means. Still anotherobject is to provide such a mech anism which comprises a plural numberor series of positive and negative contact elements all electricallyconnected by means of a contact member supported on a transverse memberand operated by an electro-magnet 'which has its armature directlyconnected to means on said transverse member for turning it and swingingsaid contact member to provide a wiping contact therewith on all of saidelements.

These objects and other objects and advantages are attained with thisinvention, as will become apparent from the following description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisapplication.

In the drawings;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved switch mechanism, showing itsparticular adaptation for use in a set of similar units as employed in apipe organ;

Fig. 2 is a slde elevation of my unitary switch mechanism;

Figs. 3 and 4 are front and rear elevations thereof, respectively;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line :)'5 of Fig. 3, butthe positive contact elements being omitted to better illustrate thewiping action of the contact bar on the negative ones;

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views similar to that of Fig. 5,illustrating the action of the electro-magnet and its armature inswinging the contact bar to engage it with the negative contact elementsand produce its wiping contact movement over said elements; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail section, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

The drawings illustrate my invention in its preferred form, showing theimproved unitary switch mechanism, which is especially devised andadapted for use in an electrically operated pipe organ and as one of therelay units which are arranged as a set or group of parallel units, asindicated in Fig. 1 and each unit contains a plural number or gang ofpositive and negative contact elements, the positive elements beingconnected to the ground wire, while the negative elements areconnectable with suitable wires (not shown) to the gang switches whichoperate the tonal units of the organ, and these positive and negativecontact elements of a unit being electrically connected by a swingablecontact bar. Each unit comprises a supporting base 10 upon which theother parts are mounted, and it is provided with holes for receivingsuitable fastening elements to mount it in position on a member 11 ofthe organ.

The contact elements are made of resilient metal, preferably in the formof wires, and are supported on the base 10 by the use of bars or members12 of insulating material, like wood,"which are securedwith suitablefastening elements in spaced relation on said base. each member 12 hasgrooves or channels 13, in its lower side or face, wherein are mountedthe negative contact elements 14 and the positive contact elements 15,the latter having the front contact ends 15' curved upwards, and allbeing retained in said grooves by fibre or insulating means 16, as bestindicated in Fig. 7 These negative elements 14 have their rear ends 18extended through and above member 12 and are there curved or arranged tohave wires attached thereto for connection to the gang switches foroperating the tonal units of the organ; while elements have their ends19 extended through and above said member 12 and bent over onto a groundwire 20 which extends across the several units in the group, asindicated in Fig. 1, said ends 19 being preferably secured to saidground wire 20 with solder 21 to provide a positive connection. v

A contact member or bar 22 is provided to swingably extend across thefront ends of said contact elements on the several members 12 mounted onthe one base 10, and this bar 22 is preferably mounted longitudinally ofa roller or rotary member 23 which is preferably made of wood and ispivoted eccentrically at its ends with pivot pins 24 ournaled in bracketplates 25 arising from the sides of base 10. A forked member or arm 26of metal has a narrow end or stem 26' engaged or mounted in roller 23,and extends from the cylindrical surface of said roller for turning iton its pivot pins to swing said bar 22 into engagement with the frontends of the negative contact elements 14, while the curved front ends 15of the positive contact elements 15 constantly. engage and bear againstsaid bar due to their curvature and resiliency, as best indicated inFig. 2.

The electro-magnet means for engaging arm 26 and directly actuatingroller 23 and bar 22 comprising a bracket 27 having a foot 28 adjustablymounted, by means of slots 29 and screws 30, between the members 12 onbase 10. An electro-magnet 31 is secured to the upper end of bracket 27and an armature 32 is pivoted with a pin 33 on'the bracket and has acurved part or arm 34 which is movable across the end face 35 of thecore 36 of the magnet. Cushioning means 37 and 38 is preferably alsoprovided on core 36 and on a post 39 adjustably mounted on base 10. Apin 40 on the side of the armature engages in the forks of arm 26 todirectly actuate the roller and bar and produce the wiping contactbetween this bar 22 and the positive and the negative contact elements15 and 14; while a spring 41 is attached to the armature and isadjustably mounted on the bracket by means of a post 42 attached to thespring and to the bracket and being readily bendable to suitably stressthe spring thus providing adjustable resilient means for retracting thearmature and the arm and thereby the contact bar 22 from the negativecontact elements 14.

What I claimas my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch mechanism, parallel contact elements, a roller ofinsulating material, a contact bar mounted longitudinally of'said rollerand extending from its surface for swinginglv engaging said elements toproand become engaged by said bar upon the roiation of said roller andthe swinging of said 2. A unitary switch mechanism comprising a base,flexible contact elements and insulating means for spacing them parallelon said base, and a contact bar and means for swingingly mounting it onsaid base to provide a wiping contact between it and said elements, someof said elements having curved front portions for continuously engagingsaid bar, while others are straight and become engaged by said bar whileit is being swung.

3. A unitary switch mechanism comprising a base, flexible contactelements, insulating blocks on the base and having grooves in the lowerface wherein said elements are mounted, each elementextending with oneend through its block and some of these elements having this end bentover and having a curved portion at the opposite end, a contact barextending over said elements and being in constant engagement with saidcurved portions, and means on said base for operating said bar toprovide a Wiping contact between it and said elements.

4. A unitary switch mechanism comprising a base, flexible contactelements, brackets on said base, a wooden roller pivoted in saidbrackets and a contact bar thereon which is in engagement with some ofsaid elements and engages the other elements when the bar and member areswung on the pivots, an arm partly secured in and partly extending fromsaid roller, and an electro-magnet and armature and means on thearmature to engage and to operate said arm and produce a wiping contactbetween said bar and said elements.

5. A unitary switch mechanism comprising a base, brackets on said base,a member swingable on said base, a contact bar carried on said member,resilient contact elements on,

said base some of which are in constant engagement with said bar andothers are engaged by the bar when it is swung, a forked arm extendingfrom said member, an electromagnet and a pivotally mounted armaturehaving a pin to engage in said fork and swing said arm for movingsaidbar along all of said elements, and spring means to retract saidarmature and bar.

6. A unitary switch mechanism comprising a base, insulating means withparallel grooves mounted on said base, contact elements mounted in saidgrooves and some having curved portions, bracket meanson said base, anda member pivoted therein, a contact bar on said member for constantlyengaging said curved portions, an electro-magnet and pivoted armaturemounted on said base, engaging means on said armature and member forturning the member and moving said bar into contact with certain of saidelements and IIIOYS it along all of said elements, and a spring and,readily adjustable means for mounting it on said basefor retracting saidarmature and bar.

7. A unitary switch mechanism comprising a base, insulating meansprovided with parallel grooves mounted'on said base, contact elementsmounted in said grooves and some having curved portions at one end andupturned portions at the other, bracket means on said base and a rollerpivoted therein, a contact bar mounted in said roller for constantlyengaging said curved portions, an electro+magnet and pivoted armaturemounted on said.

base, an arm having one end secured in said roller, pm means extendmgfrom sa1d armature and engaging said arm for turning said roller andmoving said bar into contact with the remaining ones of saidcontact'elements and to move it with a wiping contact over all of saidelements, and a spring and readily adjustable means for mounting it onsaid base for retracting said armature and bar.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS J. WICK.

